Disaster CalFresh: county resources: status.

Senator Arreguín's proposal to modify California's Disaster CalFresh program focuses on enhancing county-level disaster preparedness and response capabilities for food assistance distribution during emergencies. The legislation requires county human services agencies to submit annual disaster plans that establish mutual aid regions with neighboring counties to ensure adequate resources for benefit access during disasters.

The measure outlines specific responsibilities for the State Department of Social Services, including maintaining current Disaster CalFresh materials in all required languages and providing counties with technology for mobile electronic benefit transfer card issuance. When a presidential major disaster declaration occurs, the department and affected counties must request to operate a federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including waivers for automatic benefit replacement and hot prepared food purchases at authorized retailers.

The bill adds a requirement for the department to assess each CalFresh-serving facility's capacity to maintain services in impacted areas during disasters. This new mandate on counties to provide facility status information qualifies as a state-mandated local program, making affected jurisdictions eligible for state reimbursement of associated costs if determined necessary by the Commission on State Mandates.